Local

Town, school budgets approved in Falls Village BY RUTH EPSTEIN REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

FALLS VILLAGE -- About 30 voters were quick to approve both the municipal and school budgets during the annual budget hearing Monday.

The Board of Finance convened after the meeting to set a tax rate of 22.75 mills, an increase of 1.25 mills. A mill is a tax of $1 for every $100,000 of assessed value. A property assessed at $200,000 will be taxed $4,550 at the new rate.

The selectmen's plan shows a large increase as a result of the approval this past year to build a new emergency services center that will cost $2.3 million plus bonding costs. The school spending plan reflects a 23 percent increase in health insurance costs and a 6.5 percent increase for the first year of a new five-year bus contract.

Residents had few questions at the meeting, which lasted about half an hour. Dick Heinz asked about the jump in the municipal plan. First Selectman Patricia A. Mechare, said it was largely for the emergency services center and without it the increase would have been about 2 percent.

The meeting goers also approved a number of transfers of surplus funds into reserve accounts, including those for eventual purchases of a fire truck, highway truck and the cost of revaluation, among other items.

One of the questions involved putting money in the Lee H. Kellogg School's technology fund to go toward giving the school wireless capabilities. Resident Ellery "Woods" Sinclair said it has not been universally determined that wireless devices are entirely safe for children and stated, "I will not vote for this item."

School board member Rachel Gall responded that the members had ongoing discussions about wireless and determined that part of the money being appropriated will go for on/off switches so they will not be on all the time. "That's the unusual step our town has decided to take," she said.

During the acceptance of the town report, Louis G. Timolat, a former first selectman and current finance board member, thanked the selectmen for all that they do to run the town efficiently, which drew applause from the audience.

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